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Take Charge Brandi retired Willis Horton's Take Charge Brandi (Giant's Causeway), last season's champion two-year-old filly, has been retired from racing after failing to regain form this year. Plans call for her to take up residence at John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale Farms near Lexington. It has yet to be determined whether Take Charge Brandi will be offered for sale at the Keeneland November, or if Horton will retain her as a broodmare. Take Charge Brandi peaked at the end of her juvenile campaign. After springing a 61-1 upset of the 2014 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), the D. Wayne Lukas trainee went on to add the Delta Downs Princess (G3) and the Starlet (G1), thus securing the divisional Eclipse Award. She just lasted by a head in her sophomore bow in the January 31 Martha Washington. Subsequently sidelined by injury, Take Charge Brandi was not the same upon her return. She trailed in the August 8 Test (G1) in her comeback, and was eased in the September 19 Cotillion (G1). "You hate to see a champion retire but it was the right thing to do," Lukas said. "This family has been so good to me and Willis Horton. Take Charge Brandi was supremely talented and determined. I almost ran her in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G1) the week after the Starlet and think she would have been very tough to beat. "She reminds me of Serena's Song in her determination and natural ability. "She is the complete package and has everything you look for in a great broodmare prospect," Lukas said. Take Charge Brandi is out of Charming, a Seeking the Gold half-sister to Horton's champion Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song) as well as Grade 1 hero Take Charge Indy (A.P. Indy). Her second dam is multiple Grade 1 queen, $2.4 million-earner and Broodmare of the Year Take Charge Lady. "She was a great champion and we just ran out of time making the Breeders' Cup again," Horton said. "She owns the best pedigree in the stud book and loved to win races. The family has been great to me owning champion Will Take Charge, and we are very high on her half-sister." That half-sister is Take Charge Tressa, a War Front filly who topped the 2014 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale at $1.25 million.
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